Serial parts are requisite data, used to configure template structures in IFS/Vehicle Information Management (IFS/VIM). These template structures serve as the basis for creating the serial structures which are used to plan, schedule, and control your fleet of vehicles, e.g., a fleet of Aircrafts.
The integration between IFS/PDM Configuration and IFS/VIM:
The connection between these two components is activated when you enable after delivery serial tracking on an engineering part—or rather, when an engineering part is defined as a serialized engineering part. As a result, such serial parts can be viewed in IFS/VIM. Note: Changes performed on serials parts, for example, the definition of operational parameters, will not be reflected on the related engineering part record.
Serial Part Information:
In order to make the most of your serial part, it is necessary that you define certain information on the serial. This information includes: establishing if the serial is a vehicle part [or not], defining the serial's life limit, and entering operational parameters and Maintenance Group for the serial part.
In addition to this, you can define product model and manufacturer information for the serial parts which are to be used in a structure. It is highly recommended that you define this information prior to (or in conjunction with) the definition of serial part data, so as to, avoid the unnecessary errors which are likely to occur when creating a serial structure. One such error can occur when a serial number is entered for a structural item that does not have defined manufacturer information (i.e., manufacturer number, manufacturer's part number).
Product model information is used to record the functional breakdown for a fault that is reported on a serial part. Products and models are defined in IFS/PDM Configuration. Manufacturer information is defined on the serial's part catalog record.